Do a Ladybug’s Spots Tell How Old It Is?

No, the number of spots a ladybug has doesn’t indicate its age. If it did, most ladybugs would have only one spot, because few of them live more than a year. It would be extremely rare to encounter an adult ladybug, regardless of the species, that is older than one year. They simply do not live that long.

There are many different types of ladybugs, and each kind has a different number of spots. Some don’t have any spots at all! Some ladybugs are named after the number of spots on their backs. For example there are two-, five-, nine-, thirteen-, and fifteen – spotted ladybugs. Ladybugs are not really bugs, they are beetles. Ladybugs are often bright red or yellow, with black, red, white or yellow spots.

A ladybug’s spots and colors are important to their survival. The red, black, orange, and yellow colors can warn predators to stay away. Although ladybug’s spots do not help humans, they do fascinate us in many ways.

Content for this question contributed by Nicole Fagan, resident of, Springfield, Western New England, Hampden County, Massachusetts, USA